Acquisitions (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of Acquisition Capital Expenditures

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash acquisition capital expenditures:

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
	(in thousands)
Towers and related intangible assets	$	80,326	$	21,736	$	311,190	$	951,331
Ground lease land purchases		11,320		9,154		35,864		25,907
Earnouts		—		708		1,311		5,751
Total acquisition capital expenditures	$	91,646	$	31,598	$	348,365	$	982,989